U.S. patent number 8,267,444 [Application Number 12/184,639] was granted by the patent office on 2012-09-18 for door lock apparatus for vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Ryujiro Akizuki, Takashi Nishio, Kazumasa Seo, Yusuke Yamada.
United States Patent |
8,267,444 |
Akizuki , et al. |
September 18, 2012 |
Door lock apparatus for vehicle
Abstract
A door lock apparatus for a vehicle includes a latch mechanism,
an open operation lever, an open lever operatively connected to the
open operation lever, a locking lever being switchable between an
unlocked position and a locked position, a link operation lever
operatively connected to the locking lever, a link member
operatively connected to the link operation lever, the link member
being able to transmit an operation of the open lever to the latch
mechanism when the locking lever is in the unlocked position, the
link member being unable to transmit the operation of the open
lever to the latch mechanism when the locking lever is in the
locked position, and a lever member operatively connected to the
open lever and the locking lever, the lever member moving the
locking lever from the locked position to the unlocked position by
means of the operation of the open lever.
Inventors: |
Akizuki; Ryujiro (Kariya,
JP), Nishio; Takashi (Kariya, JP), Seo;
Kazumasa (Nisshin, JP), Yamada; Yusuke (Chiryu,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
(Kariya-Shi, Aichi-Ken, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
40139126 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/184,639 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20090051173 A1 |
Feb 26, 2009 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 24, 2007 [JP] |
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2007-218264 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
292/201; 292/216;
292/DIG.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
81/16 (20130101); E05B 77/26 (20130101); E05B
77/30 (20130101); E05B 81/36 (20130101); E05B
77/32 (20130101); Y10T 70/5889 (20150401); E05B
81/06 (20130101); Y10T 292/1047 (20150401); Y10T
292/57 (20150401); Y10T 292/1045 (20150401); Y10T
292/1082 (20150401); E05B 83/36 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05C
3/06 (20060101); E05C 3/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;292/201,216,DIG.23 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lugo; Carlos
Assistant Examiner: Merlino; Alyson M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
PC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A door lock apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a latch
mechanism retaining a vehicle door in a closed state relative to a
vehicle body; an open operation lever adapted to operate by
operation of an inside door handle provided at the vehicle door; an
open lever operatively connected to the open operation lever; a
locking lever being switchable between an unlocked position and a
locked position; a link operation lever operatively connected to
the locking lever by way of a biasing member; a link member
arranged between the latch mechanism and the open lever and
operatively connected to the link operation lever, the link member
being able to transmit an operation of the open lever to the latch
mechanism when the locking lever is in the unlocked position, the
latch mechanism being operated to bring the vehicle door to be in
an open ready state relative to the vehicle body, the link member
being unable to transmit the operation of the open lever to the
latch mechanism when the locking lever is in the locked position; a
lever member operatively connected to the open lever through a
block member and operatively connected to the locking lever, the
lever member moving the locking lever from the locked position to
the unlocked position by operation of the open lever; the block
member supported at the open lever to transmit an operation of the
open operation lever to the open lever and the lever member; a
rotatable child lock lever positionable in a child lock unset
position at which operation of the open operation lever is
transmittable to the open lever by way of the block member and
positionable in a child lock set position at which operation of the
open operation lever is not transmittable to the open lever by way
of the block member; and wherein the lever member is switchable
between a locked position and an unlocked position in association
with the locking lever, the lever member including an extending
portion extending towards the block member, the block member
including a push surface able to press the extending portion, and
the lever member is switched from the locked position to the
unlocked position by a transmission of the operation of the open
operation lever to the lever member via the push surface and the
extending portion.
2. A door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the block
member is slidably supported at the open lever and is switchable
between a child unlock position where the operation of the open
operation lever is transmittable to the open lever and a child lock
position where the operation of the open operation lever is not
transmittable to the open lever.
3. A door lock apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the open
lever includes a guide piece slidably supporting the block member,
and the block member includes an engagement projection that is
inserted into an engagement groove provided at the open operation
lever when the block member is in the child unlock position and
that is retracted from the engagement groove when the block member
is in the child lock position.
4. A door lock apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lever
member is switchable between a locked position and an unlocked
position in association with the locking lever, the lever member
including an extending portion extending towards the block member,
the block member including a push surface being able to press the
extending portion, and the lever member is switched from the locked
position to the unlocked position by a transmission of the
operation of the open operation lever to the lever member via the
push surface and the extending portion when the block member is in
the child unlock position and the lever member is in the locked
position.
5. A door lock apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a latch
mechanism retaining a vehicle door in a closed state relative to a
vehicle body; an open operation lever adapted to operate by
operation of an inside door handle provided at the vehicle door; an
open lever operatively connected to the open operation lever; a
locking lever being switchable between an unlocked position and a
locked position; a link operation lever operatively connected to
the locking lever by way of a biasing member; a link member
arranged between the latch mechanism and the open lever and
operatively connected to the link operation lever, the link member
being able to transmit an operation of the open lever to the latch
mechanism when the locking lever is in the unlocked position, the
latch mechanism being operated to bring the vehicle door to be in
an open ready state relative to the vehicle body, the link member
being unable to transmit the operation of the open lever to the
latch mechanism when the locking lever is in the locked position; a
block member supported at the open lever to transmit operation of
the open operation lever to the open lever; a rotatable child lock
lever positionable in a child lock unset position at which
operation of the open operation lever is transmittable to the open
lever by way of the block member and positionable in a child lock
set position at which operation of the open operation lever is not
transmittable to the open lever by way of the block member; a lever
member operatively connected to the open lever through the block
member and operatively connected to the locking lever, the lever
member moving the locking lever from the locked position to the
unlocked position by operation of the open lever; a housing adapted
to be mounted to the vehicle door and supporting the open operation
lever, the open lever, the locking lever, and the link operation
lever by an identical rotational axis in a rotatable manner; and
wherein the lever member and the locking lever are each rotatable
mounted to rotate about respective rotation axes that are spaced
apart from one another.
6. A door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lever
member includes an input portion directly receiving an operating
force from an outside of the door lock apparatus.
7. A door lock apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the block
member engages with the child lock lever.
8. A door lock apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the child
lock lever includes a rotational center about which the child lock
lever is rotatable, the child lock lever having a lever portion
extending outwardly away from the rotational center, the lever
portion of the child lock lever being provided with a radially
extending guide bore, the engagement projection of the block member
being positioned in the guide bore so that radial movement of the
engagement projection about a rotational axis of the open operation
lever is restricted.
9. A door lock apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the open
operation lever, the lever member and the child lock lever are each
rotatably mounted to rotate about respective rotation axes that are
spaced apart from one another.
10. A door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the child
lock lever includes a guide bore in which is positioned the block
member.
11. A door lock apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the child
lock lever includes a gear part engageable with an output gear
portion of an electric motor.
12. A door lock apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a latch
mechanism retaining a vehicle door in a closed state relative to a
vehicle body; an open operation lever adapted to operate by
operation of an inside door handle provided at the vehicle door; an
open lever operatively connected to the open operation lever; a
locking lever being switchable between an unlocked position and a
locked position; a link operation lever operatively connected to
the locking lever by way of a biasing member; a link member
arranged between the latch mechanism and the open lever and
operatively connected to the link operation lever, the link member
being able to transmit an operation of the open lever to the latch
mechanism when the locking lever is in the unlocked position, the
latch mechanism being operated to bring the vehicle door to be in
an open ready state relative to the vehicle body, the link member
being unable to transmit the operation of the open lever to the
latch mechanism when the locking lever is in the locked position; a
block member supported at the open lever to transmit an operation
of the open operation lever to the open lever; a rotatable child
lock lever positionable in a child lock unset position at which
operation of the open operation lever is transmittable to the open
lever by way of the block member and positionable in a child lock
set position at which operation of the open operation lever is not
transmittable to the open lever by way of the block member; a lever
member operatively connected to the open lever through the block
member and operatively connected to the locking lever, the lever
member moving the locking lever from the locked position to the
unlocked position by operation of the open lever; and wherein the
lever member includes a through bore, and the locking lever
includes a connecting projection portion positioned in the through
bore of the lever member.
13. A door lock apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lever
member includes an input portion directly receiving an operating
force from an outside of the door lock apparatus.
14. A door lock apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the child
lock lever includes a gear part engageable with an output gear
portion of an electric motor.
15. A door lock apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the lever
member includes an input portion directly receiving an operating
force from an outside of the door lock apparatus.
16. A door lock apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the child
lock lever includes a gear part engageable with an output gear
portion of an electric motor.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-218264, filed on
Aug. 24, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to a door lock apparatus for a
vehicle.
BACKGROUND
A known door lock apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed, for
example, in JP2004124687A. According to the door lock apparatus
disclosed, a locked state and an unlocked state of a vehicle door
relative to a vehicle body are switched in a state where the
vehicle door is retained in a closed state relative to the vehicle
body by means of a latch mechanism. In the unlocked state, the
vehicle door can be opened, i.e., the closed state of the vehicle
door can be cancelled, by an operation of a door handle. In the
locked state, the vehicle door cannot be opened, i.e., the closed
state of the vehicle door cannot be cancelled, by the operation of
the door handle.
When an inside handle is operated one time in the locked state of
the vehicle door, for example, a cancel lever is operated via an
open operation lever and an open lever. Then, a link member moves
on a lift lever by means of an operating force transmitted from the
open lever and the cancel lever. At this time, the lift lever is
not operated and therefore the closed state of the vehicle door
retained by the latch mechanism is not cancelled.
On the other hand, a locking lever that receives an operating force
via the link member and an inside locking lever is movable from a
locked position to an unlocked position because of a deformation of
a spring. When the inside handle is returned to its initial
position, the state where the link member is positioned on the lift
lever is cancelled, thereby obtaining the unlocked state of the
vehicle door.
When the inside handle is further operated one more time in the
aforementioned state, the lift lever is operated to thereby cause a
cancellation of the closed state of the vehicle door that is
retained by the latch mechanism.
A transmission path of the operating force via the open operation
lever and the open lever when the locking lever is moved from the
locked position to the unlocked position by an operation of the
inside handle is constituted by the cancel lever, the link member,
and the inside locking lever. In this case, since the transmission
path is constituted by three members, the transmission efficiency
of the operation force may be reduced, which may lead to
deterioration in the operation feeling of the inside handle.
Lately, the door lock apparatus provided at the vehicle door not
equipped with a lock knob that links to a function of the inside
locking lever, i.e., a knob-less door, has also been proposed. The
inside locking lever is not necessary for such door lock apparatus.
However, even when the door lock apparatus is applied to such type
of door, the aforementioned transmission path is constituted by two
members, which may still lead to the decrease in the transmission
efficiency of the operation force of the inside handle.
A need thus exists for a door lock apparatus for a vehicle which is
not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the present invention, a door lock
apparatus for a vehicle includes a latch mechanism retaining a
vehicle door in a closed state relative to a vehicle body, an open
operation lever adapted to operate by means of an operation of a
door handle provided at the vehicle door, an open lever operatively
connected to the open operation lever, a locking lever being
switchable between an unlocked position and a locked position, a
link operation lever operatively connected to the locking lever by
means of a biasing member, a link member arranged between the latch
mechanism and the open lever and operatively connected to the link
operation lever, the link member being able to transmit an
operation of the open lever to the latch mechanism when the locking
lever is in the unlocked position, the latch mechanism being
operated to bring the vehicle door to be in an open ready state
relative to the vehicle body, the link member being unable to
transmit the operation of the open lever to the latch mechanism
when the locking lever is in the locked position, and a lever
member operatively connected to the open lever and the locking
lever, the lever member moving the locking lever from the locked
position to the unlocked position by means of the operation of the
open lever.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle door to which a door lock
apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present
invention is applied;
FIG. 2 is a elevation view illustrating a latch mechanism of the
door lock apparatus according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the door lock apparatus and its
operation;
FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the door lock apparatus and its
operation;
FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the door lock apparatus and its
operation;
FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the door lock apparatus and its
operation;
FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the door lock apparatus and its
operation; and
FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating the door lock apparatus and its
operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with
reference to the attached drawings. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a
door lock apparatus 10 is provided within a vehicle door 1,
specifically, in the vicinity of a rear edge thereof. The door lock
apparatus 10 holds the vehicle door 1 in a closed state relative to
a vehicle body (not shown) by an engagement with a striker 2
provided at the vehicle body. An inside handle 3 serving as a door
handle is arranged at the vehicle door 1 so as to be exposed to an
interior of a vehicle. An outside handle 4 is also provided at the
vehicle door 1 so as to be exposed to an exterior of the
vehicle.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the door lock apparatus 10 includes a
latch mechanism 11 having a latch 12 and a pawl 13. The latch
mechanism 11 engages with the striker 2, thereby retaining the
closed state of the vehicle door 1 relative to the vehicle body.
That is, when closing the vehicle door 1, the latch 12 rotates to
engage with the striker 2. At the same time, the pawl 13 prevents
the rotation of the latch 12 so as to retain the closed state of
the vehicle door 1. When the pawl 13 is moved to stop preventing
the rotation of the latch 12, the latch 12 is biased by a return
spring (not shown) to rotate in a return direction. Then, the
engagement between the latch 12 and the striker 2 is cancelled to
thereby bring the vehicle door 1 to an open ready state.
The door lock apparatus 10 will be explained in detail with
reference to FIGS. 3 to 8. FIG. 3 illustrates the door lock
apparatus 10 in the case that the vehicle door 1 is in an unlocked
state and a child lock unset state where the vehicle door 1 is
allowed to open by an operation of the inside handle 3. FIG. 4
illustrates the door lock apparatus 10 in the case that the vehicle
door 1 is in a locked state and the child lock unset state.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the door lock apparatus 10 includes a
housing 21 having a box shape, an inside lever 22 serving as an
open operation lever, an inside open lever 23 serving as an open
lever, a bush 24 serving as a block member, a cancel lever 25
serving as a lever member, an active lever 26 serving as a locking
lever, a panic lever 27 serving as a link operation lever, an open
link 28 serving as a link member, a lock actuator 29, a child lock
lever 30, and a child lock actuator 31.
The inside lever 22 is formed by a metallic plate, for example, and
is arranged at a predetermined initial position. The inside lever
22 is supported at the housing 21 so as to be rotatable about a
rotational axis 01 in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise
direction in FIG. 3. The inside lever 22, which is connected to the
inside handle 3, rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
3 when the inside handle 3 is operated in an open direction. The
inside lever 22 includes an engagement groove 22a at an end that is
cut towards the rotational axis 01 to form a substantially
U-shape.
The inside open lever 23 is formed by a metallic plate, for
example, and is arranged to be coaxial with the inside lever 22.
The inside open lever 23 is supported at the housing 21 so as to be
rotatable in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise
direction in FIG. 3. The inside open lever 23 includes a push piece
23a radially extending and having a claw shape, and a guide piece
23b radially extending at an angular position different from that
of the push piece 23a.
The bush 24 is formed by a resin material into a flat plate shape,
for example. The bush 24 is supported at the guide piece 23b in a
slidable manner along a longitudinal direction (i.e., radial
direction) of the guide piece 23b. The bush 24 includes an
engagement projection 24a having a substantially column shape and
extending in a vertical direction, i.e., substantially in parallel
with the rotational axis 01. In cases where the bush 24 is arranged
at a predetermined position close to the rotational axis 01
relative to the guide piece 23b, the engagement projection 24a is
inserted into the engagement groove 22a of the inside lever 22 so
as to restrict a relative movement of the bush 24 to the inside
lever 22 in a circumferential direction relative to the rotational
axis 01. At this time, the bush 24 is able to transmit a movement
(i.e., rotation) of the inside lever 22 to the inside open lever
23. The bush 24 is in a child unlock position accordingly.
On the other hand, when the bush 24 is arranged at a predetermined
position away from the rotational axis 01 relative to the guide
piece 23b (see FIG. 8), the engagement projection 24a is retracted
from the engagement groove 22a to thereby cancel the restriction of
the relative rotation of the bush 24 to the inside lever 22. At
this time, the bush 24 is unable to transmit the movement (i.e.,
rotation) of the inside lever 22 to the inside open lever 23. The
bush 24 is in a child lock position accordingly. That is, the bush
24 is displaced along the guide piece 23b so as to selectively
switch between a state where the inside lever 22 and the inside
open lever 23 are allowed to integrally rotate and a state where
the inside lever 22 and the inside open lever 23 are allowed to
relatively rotate to each other. A press surface 24b is formed at
an end portion of the bush 24 away from the rotational axis 01 by
cutting in an arc shape and facing the cancel lever 25.
The cancel lever 25 is formed by a combination of a resin material
and a metallic plate, for example. The cancel lever 25 is supported
at the housing 21 so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis 02
in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction in
FIG. 3. The cancel lever 25 includes a connection portion 25a, an
extending portion 25b, and an input portion 25c. The connection
portion 25a has a plate shape extending towards the active lever
26. The extending portion 25b radially extends from the rotational
axis 02 towards the bush 24. The input portion 25c radially extends
from the rotational axis 02 in an opposite direction to that the
extending portion 25b extends.
In cases where the vehicle door 1 is in the locked state and the
bush 24 is in the child unlock position as illustrated in FIG. 4,
the extending portion 25b of the cancel lever 25 is pressed by the
press surface 24b of the bush 24 resulting from the
counterclockwise rotation of the inside open lever 23 that supports
the bush 24 beyond a predetermined angle as illustrated in FIG. 5,
thereby rotating the cancel lever 25 in the counterclockwise
direction in FIG. 5. Further, in cases where the vehicle door 1 is
in the unlocked state as illustrated in FIG. 7, the cancel lever 25
rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7 by directly receiving
an operating force from the outside of the door lock apparatus 10
via the input portion 25c. The connection portion 25a includes an
elongated bore 25d that extends in a radial direction of the
rotational axis 02.
The active lever 26 is formed by a resin material, for example, and
is supported at the housing 21 so as to be rotatable about the
rotational axis 01 in the clockwise direction and the
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 within a predetermined
rotational angle. The active lever 26 is in an unlocked position
where the clockwise rotation of the active lever 26 is restricted
as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7. On the other hand, the active
lever 26 is in a locked position where the counterclockwise
rotation of the active lever 26 is restricted as illustrated in
FIG. 4. The active lever 26 is selectively moved to the unlocked
position and the locked position by means of a biasing force of a
spring for positioning the active lever 26 (not shown) assembled
onto the housing 21.
The active lever 26 includes a lever portion 26a, a connecting
projection portion 26b, and a gear portion 26c. The lever portion
26a having a plate shape extends from its rotational center, i.e.,
the rotational axis 01, towards the connection portion 25a to be
arranged under the connection portion 25a. The connecting
projection portion 26b projects from the lever portion 26a in a
vertical direction, i.e., substantially in parallel with the
rotational axis 01, to be inserted into the elongated bore 25d of
the cancel lever 25. The gear portion 26c having a fan shape
extends from the rotational center towards the lock actuator 29.
The lock actuator 29 includes an electric motor 29a and an output
gear portion 29b fixed to a rotational shaft of the electric motor
29a as illustrated in FIG. 3. The gear portion 26c meshes with the
output gear portion 29b so that the active lever 26 and the lock
actuator 29 are connected to each other. The active lever 26 is
selectively moved to the unlocked position and the locked position
by means of a driving force of the lock actuator 29.
The cancel lever 25 and the active lever 26 operatively connected
through the connecting projection portion 26b positioned into the
elongated bore 25d integrally rotate in such a manner that the
cancel lever 25 and the active lever 26 rotate about respective
rotational axes 02 and 01. Thus, in cases where the active lever 26
rotates between the unlocked position and the locked position about
the rotational axis 01, for example, the cancel lever 25 rotates
between an unlocked position and a locked position about the
rotational axis 02 in association with the rotation of the active
lever 26. On the other hand, in cases where the cancel lever 25
rotates about the rotational axis 02, the active lever 26 rotates
about the rotational axis 01 in association with the rotation of
the cancel lever 25. At this time, the active lever 26 is
selectively moved to the unlocked position and the locked position
by the biasing force of the aforementioned spring.
The panic lever 27 is formed by a metallic plate, for example, and
is supported at the housing 21 so as to be rotatable about the
rotational axis 01 in the clockwise direction and the
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3. The panic lever 27 is
configured to basically integrally rotate with the active lever 26
by means of a spring 32 serving as a biasing member wound around
the rotational axis 01. One end of the spring 32 engages with the
active lever 26 and the other end engages with the panic lever 27.
In this case, however, the active lever 26 and the panic lever 27
are relatively rotatable to each other about the rotational axis 01
against the biasing force of the spring 32. The panic lever 27
includes an engagement pin 27a at an end that extends in a vertical
direction, i.e., substantially in parallel with the rotational axis
01.
The open link 28 is formed by a metallic plate, for example. The
open link 28 that extends in up and down directions in FIG. 3
includes an elongated-shaped engagement groove 28a at one end
through which the engagement pin 27a of the panic lever 27 is
inserted. The open link 28 is slidable relative to the panic lever
27 along the longitudinal direction of the engagement groove
28a.
The open link 28 also includes a connection portion 28b at the
other end operatively connected to an open lever 33 provided at the
housing 21. The open link 28 is operatively connected to the open
lever 33 in a rotatable manner. The open lever 33 is attached in a
rotatable manner to the housing 21 via a support pin 34. The open
lever 33 is stably arranged at a predetermined position by means of
a torsion spring (not shown). One end portion 33a of the open lever
33 is operatively connected to the connection portion 28b of the
open link 28 while the other end portion of the open lever 33
positioned opposite to the one end portion 33a relative to a
rotational center is connected to the outside handle 4. Because of
an operation of the outside handle 4 in the open direction, the
open lever 33 rotates so that the one end portion 33a and further
the connection portion 28b of the open link 28 are moved upward
against the biasing force of the torsion spring.
The open link 28 further includes an L-shaped engagement piece 28c
between the engagement groove 28a and the connection portion 28b.
The engagement piece 28c is arranged in the vicinity of a lift
lever 35 attached to the housing 21 in a rotatable manner. The lift
lever 35 is connected to the pawl 13 (see FIG. 2) so as to
integrally rotate therewith. In cases where the lift lever 35
rotates so that an end portion 35a thereof facing the engagement
piece 28c is moved upward, the engagement of the latch mechanism 11
with the striker 2 is released in association with the rotation of
the pawl 13 and the lift lever 35 as a unit, thereby allowing the
open operation of the vehicle door 1 relative to the vehicle
body.
The engagement piece 28c is arranged to face the push piece 23a of
the inside open lever 23 in the vertical direction in FIG. 3 and is
positioned on a rotational locus of the push piece 23a. Therefore,
when the inside open lever 23 rotates in the counterclockwise
direction, the push piece 23a presses a facing surface of the
engagement piece 28c, thereby moving the open link 28 in the upward
direction.
A relationship of arrangement between the engagement piece 28c and
the end portion 35a in cases where the active lever 26 is in the
unlocked position and the locked position will be explained below.
In cases where the active lever 26 is in the unlocked position as
illustrated in FIG. 7, the one end of the open link 28 is
positioned at one side (i.e., right side in FIG. 7) by means of the
engagement pin 27a of the panic lever 27. At this time, the
engagement piece 28c and the end portion 35a are positioned to face
each other in the vertical direction in FIG. 7. The engagement
groove 28a is arranged in such a way that the longitudinal
direction thereof corresponds to the vertical direction.
Accordingly, when the open link 28 is moved upward in the
aforementioned manner, the end portion 35a is moved upward while
being pressed by the engagement piece 28c to thereby release the
engagement of the latch mechanism 11 with the striker 2. At this
time, the open link 28 is positioned in a transmission allowable
position.
On the other hand, in cases where the active lever 26 is in the
locked position as illustrated in FIG. 4, the one end of the open
link 28 is positioned at the other side (i.e., left side in FIG. 4)
by means of the engagement pin 27a of the panic lever 27. At this
time, the engagement piece 28c is arranged in such a way that an
extended line along the longitudinal direction of the engagement
groove 28a is prevented from making contact with the end portion
35a. According to the present embodiment, when the open link 28 is
moved upward along the longitudinal direction of the engagement
groove 28a, the engagement piece 28c is configured to make contact
with the lift lever 35 at a sidewall surface in the rear direction
of the vehicle. At this time, the open link 28 guided by the
engagement pin 27a that is inserted into the engagement groove 28a
is tentatively retained between the panic lever 27 and the lift
lever 35. That is, by one upward operation of the open link 28, the
end portion 35a is not pressed by the engagement piece 28c. The
engagement of the latch mechanism 11 with the striker 2 is
retained. At this time, the open link 28 is in an impossible
transmission position.
The lock actuator 29 is driven upon detection of a remote operation
of a lock and unlock switch (i.e., lock and unlock operation)
provided at a key blade, a door interior trim, and the like at a
control circuit (not shown). When the lock actuator 29 is driven,
the active lever 26 is selectively moved to the unlocked position
and the locked position as described above.
The child lock lever 30 is formed by a resin material, for example,
and is supported at the housing 21 so as to be rotatable about a
rotational axis 03 in the clockwise direction and the
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 within a predetermined
rotational angle. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the child lock lever 30
is in a child lock unset position where the counterclockwise
rotation of the child lock lever 30 is restricted. As illustrated
in FIG. 8, the child lock lever 30 is in a child lock set position
where the clockwise rotation of the child lock lever 30 is
restricted. A spring 36 for positioning the child lock lever 30
(see FIG. 3) is attached to the housing 21. The child lock lever 30
is selectively moved to the child lock unset position and the child
lock set position by receiving a biasing force of the spring
36.
The child lock lever 30 includes a lever portion 30a, a guide bore
30b, and a gear portion 30c. The lever portion 30a extends from its
rotational center, i.e., the rotational axis 03, of the child lock
lever 30 towards the bush 24 to form into a plate shape. The guide
bore 30b is formed at the lever portion 30a so as to radially
extend to form an arc shape. The gear portion 30c extends from the
rotational center towards the child lock actuator 31 to form a fan
shape. The child lock actuator 31 includes an electric motor 31a
and an output gear portion 31b fixed to a rotational shaft of the
electric motor 31a. The gear portion 30c meshes with the output
gear portion 31b so that the child lock lever 30 and the child lock
actuator 31 are connected to each other. The child lock lever 30 is
driven by the child lock actuator 31 to be selectively moved to the
child lock unset position and the child lock set position.
The engagement projection 24a of the bush 24 is inserted into the
guide bore 30b of the child lock lever 30 so that the radial
movement of the engagement projection 24a about the rotational axis
01 is restricted by the guide bore 30b. That is, the position of
the bush 24 relative to the guide piece 23b is restricted and
determined. In cases where the child lock lever 30 is in the child
lock unset position, the bush 24 is configured to be arranged in
the child unlock position. In addition, in cases where the child
lock lever 30 is in the child lock set position, the bush 24 is
configured to be arranged in the child lock position.
When the child lock lever 30 is in the child lock unset position,
the guide bore 30b having the arc shape is arranged to extend along
the circumferential direction relative to the rotational axis 01.
Accordingly, the engagement projection 24a inserted into the lever
portion 30a via the engagement groove 22a is rotatable about the
rotational axis 01. That is, the bush 24 is allowed to rotate. When
the inside lever 22 rotates, the engagement projection 24a of the
bush 24 is pressed by the engagement groove 22a, which leads to the
bush 24 and the inside open lever 23 that supports the bush 24 to
rotate integrally.
The child lock actuator 31 is driven upon detection of a remote
operation of a child lock switch (i.e., set and unset operation)
provided at a key blade, a door interior trim, and the like at a
control circuit (not shown). When the child lock actuator 31 is
driven, the child lock lever 30 is selectively moved to the child
lock unset position and the child lock set position as described
above.
Next, an operation of the door lock apparatus for a vehicle
according to the embodiment will be explained below. When the
inside lever 22 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4
by an operation of the inside handle 3 in the open direction in a
state illustrated in FIG. 4 (i.e., locked state and child lock
unset state), the inside open lever 23 that supports the bush 24 of
which the engagement projection 24a engages with the engagement
groove 22a integrally rotates with the inside lever 22. The push
piece 23a of the inside open lever 23 starts to press the
engagement piece 28c of the open link 28. At this time, since the
engagement piece 28c of the open link 28 and the end portion 35a of
the lift lever 35 are prevented from facing each other in the
vertical direction in FIG. 3, the end portion 35a is not moved
upward. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the open link 28 is moved
upward by a predetermined amount until the press surface 24b of the
bush 24 makes contact with the extending portion 25b of the cancel
lever 25. That is, the inside open lever 23 that supports the bush
24 possesses an idle stroke that is active until the press surface
24b makes contact with the extending portion 25b. Consequently, the
open link 28 is moved upward in advance by means of the idle
stroke.
When the inside open lever 23 further rotates in the aforementioned
state, the open link 28 pressed by the push piece 23a is further
moved upward. As a result, the engagement piece 28c makes contact
with the lift lever 35 at the sidewall surface in the rear
direction of the vehicle (i.e., the engagement piece 28c engages
with the lift lever 35) to be tentatively retained and sandwiched
between the lift lever 35 and the panic lever 27 as illustrated in
FIG. 6. Further, in association with the further rotation of the
bush 24 supported by the inside open lever 23, the press surface
24b of the bush 24 presses the extending portion 25b of the cancel
lever 25. As a result, the cancel lever 25 and the active lever 26
integrally rotate about the respective rotational axes 02 and 01.
Then, the active lever 26 is moved to the unlocked position by
means of the biasing force of the spring for positioning the active
lever 26. At this time, the active lever 26 is moved to the
unlocked position against the biasing force of the spring 32 while
the panic lever 27 that guides the open link 28 is retained, i.e.,
the panic lever 27 does not integrally rotate with the active lever
26.
When the operation of the inside handle 3 in the open direction is
released in the aforementioned state, the inside lever 22
integrally rotates with the inside open lever 23 in the clockwise
direction in FIG. 6. Then, the engagement piece 28c of the open
link 28 is separated from the push piece 23a. At this time, since
the active lever 26 is already in the unlocked position, the
engagement piece 28c of the open link 28 that is moved downward
while being guided by the panic lever 27 faces the end portion 35a
of the lift lever 35 in the vertical direction in FIG. 7 (i.e.,
unlocked state).
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when the
vehicle door 1 is in the locked state, the vehicle door 1 can be
shifted to the unlocked state by the operation of the inside handle
3 in the open direction. As a result, a lock-knob that is
conventionally provided in a vehicle interior and that links to a
function of an inside locking lever is omitted.
When the inside handle 3 is further operated one more time, the
inside lever 22 integrally rotates with the inside open lever 23 in
the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7. Then, the engagement
piece 28c is pressed by the push piece 23a to thereby move the open
link 28 upward. As a result, the engagement piece 28c presses the
end portion 35a, which is then moved upward. The engagement of the
latch mechanism 11 with the striker 2 is cancelled accordingly.
That is, in the locked state of the vehicle door 1, the latch
mechanism 11 is operated so that the vehicle door 1 is brought to
the open ready state relative to the vehicle body by the double
operation of the inside handle 3 (i.e., two motion mechanism).
According to the present embodiment, mechanisms relating to the
open operation at the vehicle interior side (i.e., the inside lever
22 and the inside open lever 23) and mechanisms relating to the
lock operation (i.e., the active lever 26 and the panic lever 27)
are coaxially arranged with each other to thereby aim a downsizing
of the door lock apparatus 10 as a whole. The rotation (i.e.,
operation) directions of the mechanisms relating to the open
operation and the mechanisms relating to the lock operation are
opposite to each other about the rotational axis 01.
In the cases where the child lock lever 30 rotates in the clockwise
direction in the state illustrated in FIG. 7 by the driving force
of the child lock actuator 31 to be moved to the child lock set
position as illustrated in FIG. 8, the bush 24 is pressed by the
guide bore 30b to be moved along the guide piece 23b of the inside
open lever 23 to the child lock position (i.e., the vehicle is in
the child lock set position). At this time, the inside lever 22 and
the inside open lever 23 are relatively rotatable to each other as
mentioned above. Accordingly, even when the inside lever 22 rotates
in the counterclockwise direction by the operation of the inside
handle 3 in the open direction, the inside lever 22 and the inside
open lever 23 are relatively rotatable to each other. That is, even
when the inside handle 3 is operated while the child lock lever 30
is in the child lock set position, the inside lever 22 only rotates
and the inside open lever 23 does not follow the rotation of the
inside lever 22, which prevents the cancellation of the engagement
between the latch mechanism 11 and the striker 2.
When the active lever 26 is in the unlocked position, the
engagement of the latch mechanism 11 with the striker 2 is released
by the operation of the outside handle 4 regardless of the
positions of the bush 24 and the child lock lever 30. That is, in
the cases where the bush 24 is in the child lock position and the
active lever 26 is in the unlocked position, the latch mechanism 11
can be operated so that the vehicle door 1 is allowed to be open
relative to the vehicle body by the operation from the outside of
the vehicle (i.e., the operation of the outside handle 4) (child
lock mechanism).
When the child lock lever 30 rotates in the clockwise direction to
be moved to the child lock set position by the driving force of the
child lock actuator 31 in the state illustrated in FIG. 4, the bush
24 is moved to the child lock position. In such state, the inside
lever 22 and the inside open lever 23 are relatively rotatable to
each other with the active lever 26 in the locked position, thereby
achieving a so-called double lock state.
In addition, when the cancel lever 25 rotates in the clockwise
direction by directly receiving an operating force at the input
portion 25c from the outside of the door lock apparatus 10 with the
active lever 26 in the unlocked position, regardless of the
positions of the bush 24 and the child lock lever 30, the active
lever 26 that is operated in association with the cancel lever 25
is moved to the locked position by the biasing force of the spring
for positioning. Then, the panic lever 27 that guides the open link
28 integrally rotates with the active lever 26 so that the vehicle
door 1 is sifted to the locked state. Such feature is provided to
enable the vehicle door 1 to be forcedly shifted to the locked
state by the operation of the cancel lever 25 even if the lock
actuator 29 or the child lock actuator 31, for example, is
impossible to be driven.
When the driving of the lock actuator 29 is stopped, the output
gear portion 29b is released. That is, the lock actuator 29 is not
powered and thus the output gear portion 29b rotates by following
the operation of the active lever 26. Thus, an effect on the
operating force required to shift the vehicle door 1 from the
locked state to the unlocked state by the operation of the inside
handle 3 or the cancel lever 25 in the aforementioned manner is
substantially zero.
Further, regardless of the positions of the bush 24 and the child
lock lever 30, the vehicle door 1 can be shifted from the locked
state to the unlocked state or vice versa by the driving of the
active lever 26 by the lock actuator 29.
According to the aforementioned embodiment, the following effects
can be obtained. First, the active lever 26 is moved from the
locked position to the unlocked position by the operation of the
inside open lever 23 (and the bush 24) via only the cancel lever
25. Thus, the transmission efficiency of the operating force is
improved when the active lever 26 is moved from the locked position
to the unlocked position by the operation of the inside open lever
23 via the inside lever 22 caused by the operation of the inside
handle 3.
At this time, prior to the operation start of the active lever 26
via the cancel lever 25 in association with the operation of the
inside open lever 23 (and the bush 24), the open link 28 is pressed
by the inside open lever 23 so that the open link 28 engages with
the lift lever 35. That is, the operation of the open link 28 is
started in advance. After the open link 28 engages with the lift
lever 35, the active lever 26 is operated independently from the
panic lever 27 while the spring 32 is being deflected. As a result,
the active lever 26 is movable from the locked position to the
unlocked position without the operation of the latch mechanism 11
for bringing the vehicle door 1 to the open ready state by the open
link 28.
In addition, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the
operation of the inside lever 22 is transmittable to the inside
open lever 23 and the cancel lever 25 by the bush 24 that is
selectively moved to the child unlock position and to the child
lock position so as to serve as a mechanism for allowing and
prohibiting the transmission of the operation of the inside lever
22 to the inside open lever 23 (i.e. child lock mechanism). Then,
timing to transmit the operation of the inside lever 22 to the
inside open lever 23 and the cancel lever 25 is individually
specified by means of the bush 24, thereby easily achieving the two
motion mechanism.
Further, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the inside
lever 22, the inside open lever 23, the active lever 26, and the
panic lever 27 are rotatably supported at the vehicle door 1 (i.e.,
the housing 21) via the identical rotational axis 01. Thus, a space
where the inside open lever 23, the active lever 26, and the panic
lever 27 are arranged is minimized. The door lock apparatus 10 can
be downsized accordingly.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the bush
24 includes two features that relate to the child lock mechanism
and the two-motion mechanism, thereby decreasing the number of
components. That is, the two-motion mechanism is achievable by the
use of the bush 24 that is already used for the child lock
mechanism.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, the
vehicle door 1 is shifted from the locked state to the unlocked
state by only the operation of the inside handle 3 without a
lock-knob that exposes to the outside of the door lock apparatus
10, for example, to the vehicle interior. Thus, the security
performance of the vehicle is enhanced. In addition, since a
mechanism relating to the operation control of the lock-knob such
as a lever can be omitted, the number of components is
decreased.
Furthermore, according to the aforementioned embodiment, timing of
the operation start of the active lever 26 via the cancel lever 25
in association with the operation of the inside open lever 23 (and
the bush 24) and timing of the operation start of the open link 28
may be adjusted, for example, synchronized, to thereby move the
latch mechanism 11 in such a way that the vehicle door 1 is shifted
to the open ready state by the open link 28 after the active lever
26 is moved from the locked position to the unlocked position. That
is, through a simple design change, the vehicle door 1 is shifted
from the locked state to the unlocked state by the single operation
of the inside handle 3 and is shifted to the open ready state
relative to the vehicle body by the operation of the latch
mechanism 11 (i.e. one-motion mechanism).
The aforementioned embodiment may be modified as follows. That is,
an electromagnetic solenoid may be used for a driving portion of
the lock actuator 29 or the child lock actuator 31.
In addition, the child lock mechanism (i.e., the child lock lever
30 and the child lock actuator 31) may be omitted. In this case,
the bush 24 may be omitted and then an engagement portion of the
bush 24 (i.e., press surface 24b) with the cancel lever 25,
specifically, the extending portion 25b, may be integrally formed
with the inside open lever 23.
According to the aforementioned embodiment, the door lock apparatus
10 further includes the bush 24 supported at the inside open lever
23 and transmitting an operation of the inside lever 22 to the
inside open lever 23 and the cancel lever 25.
Further, the bush 24 is slidably supported at the inside open lever
23 and is switchable between the child unlock position where the
operation of the inside lever 22 is transmittable to the inside
open lever 23 and the child lock position where the operation of
the open inside lever 22 is not transmittable to the inside open
lever 23.
Furthermore, the inside open lever 23 includes the guide piece 23b
slidably supporting the bush 24, and the bush 24 includes the
engagement projection 24a that is inserted into the engagement
groove 22a provided at the inside lever 22 when the bush 24 is in
the child unlock position and that is retracted from the engagement
groove 22a when the bush 24 is in the child lock position.
Furthermore, the cancel lever 25 is switchable between the locked
position and the unlocked position in association with the active
lever 26, the cancel lever 25 including the extending portion 25b
extending towards the bush 24, the bush 24 including the push
surface 24b being able to press the extending portion 25b, and the
cancel lever 25 is switched from the locked position to the
unlocked position by a transmission of the operation of the inside
lever 22 to the cancel lever 25 via the push surface 24b and the
extending portion 25b when the bush 24 is in the child unlock
position and the cancel lever 25 is in the locked position.
Furthermore, the cancel lever 25 is switchable between the locked
position and the unlocked position in association with the active
lever 26, the cancel lever 25 including the extending portion 25b
extending towards the bush 24, the bush 24 including the push
surface 24b being able to press the extending portion 25b, and the
cancel lever 25 is switched from the locked position to the
unlocked position by a transmission of the operation of the inside
lever 22 to the cancel lever 25 via the push surface 24b and the
extending portion 25b.
Furthermore, the door lock apparatus 10 includes the housing 21
adapted to be mounted to the vehicle door 1 and supporting the
inside lever 22, the inside open lever 23, the active lever 26, and
the panic lever 27 by an identical rotational axis (01) in a
rotatable manner.
The panic lever 25 includes the input portion 25c directly
receiving an operating force from an outside of the door lock
apparatus 10.
The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the
present invention have been described in the foregoing
specification. However, the invention which is intended to be
protected is not to be construed as limited to the particular
embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein
are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
Variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents
employed, without departing from the spirit of the present
invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such
variations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit
and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be
embraced thereby.
* * * * *